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By: Charlotte Smith, BladenOnline.com

Our county commissioners held a meeting Wednesday with two top executives of merging managed care organizations assisting clients with mental and behavioral health. The results of the meeting are lacking.

Susan Stroud, the CEO of Eastpointe, and Richard Topping, the CEO of Cardinal Innovation, appeared before the local elected board regarding the services they offer and plans to consolidate. However, explaining exactly how mental health services will improve, or how someone may obtain mental health services was not explained by the two high paid staffers and is still a mystery to most.

The duo had no power-point presentation, no brochures, nothing other than a light skim over issues that are deep and wide. Our article, “Bladen County Commissioners address Mental Health” gives an account of the meeting. You can view the whole meeting on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Vj1kLtJskpQ.

Commissioner Michael Cogdell did touch on some issues needing to be addressed, but did not receive any clear answers.

This issue should be a top priority for our elected officials because of the damages mental and behavior health issues are causing our communities. Children are given to foster care, crime has increased, diseases are spreading and our economy is suffering.

According to the North Carolina Medical Journal, “Mental health and substance use disorders are among the top conditions for disability and burden of disease, as well as cost to families, employers, and publicly funded health systems in the United States and worldwide. In 2014, approximately one in five adults in North Carolina had a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder during the past year and one in twelve adults was dependent on or abusing alcohol or illegal drugs.”

The medical journal states basically the same thought Cogdell was addressing Wednesday evening. “Successful treatment and recovery cannot happen if people do not access services. However, most North Carolinians do not understand who provides which services, whether services are covered, or how to access services.”

Our team at BladenOnline.com has been searching for services and group meetings in Bladen County to assist folks dealing with behavioral and mental health problems, but have only found more concerns.

The only local business promoting the fact they offer mental and substance abuse services in Bladen County has an office that has been locked up, their phone number doesn’t work, their website doesn’t work, and the crisis number they offer their Bladen County clients goes to an automated machine talking about a Walmart gift card. Scratching your head yet?

How can this happen? Where is the managing company of this mental health provider at? I’ll tell you where… They are busy consolidating with Cardinal Innovative Healthcare.

I tried to call to report my concerns to the contact number on the Eastpointe website. I was not allowed to know the last name of the person I was speaking with about my concerns. I was not given any contact information to follow back up about my concerns.

What is a tax paying citizen to do?

Last issue I would like to make after listening to the meeting held at the Bladen County courthouse with the two executives and our politicians is cost over quality. Topping, the CEO of Cardinal stated the state will start allowing insurance companies to bid on the mental health services for cost savings.

Did the state not read its own medical journal? The medical journal suggests paying for services based on quality outcomes. Working for quality outcomes to receive pay is a much better idea than taking bids, in my humble opinion.

The answers to the mental, behavioral, and substance abuse issues are in the NC Medial Journal. I encourage all voting citizens to hold our elected officials and government contracted partners accountable.

Find elected officials information below:

Bladen County Commissioners

Bladen County Representatives House and Senate